US

Ohio Vets Donate 1,200 Flags So Students Can Take Part in Pledge of Allegiance

Ohio Vets Donate Over 1,000 Flags to Columbus Public Schools

Veterans groups have bought 1,200 American flags for Columbus City Schools after learning that the district did not have enough actual flags to accommodate students wishing to participate in the new state policy of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance daily.

The Associated Press notes that the new policy requires schools to begin each day with the Pledge of Allegiance (students, however, may choose not to participate). Columbus teachers had previously improvised with flags printed on pieces of paper or projected onto classroom walls when the new policy was first implemented at the start of the school year.

Columbus-area veterans groups banded together to bring new flags to city classrooms after a Columbus Dispatch story revealed a shortage. NBC 4 reported on the flag shortage in August:

Watch this at WCMH Columbus OH

The VFW donated 700 brand new flags and the local American Legion supplied another 500.

“I said we’ll do whatever we need to do,” said Bill Seagraves, executive director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ohio Charities, to the Dispatch. “I said we’ll buy them all or we’ll buy a portion of them.”

The Dispatch notes that the 2-foot-by-4-foot cloth flags were made in the United States and cost the two groups almost $10,000 combined. The flags were delivered last month and have already been distributed to classrooms.

“One of our purposes that the Veterans of Foreign Wars was founded, and the American Legion, is the promotion of patriotism, and that’s one of the things we do best,” said Gerald Ward, VFW state commander. “This is part of it — a prime example.”

Board of Education members have thanked the veteran groups for helping the district accommodate to the new policy.

Comments (57)

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  • ThankBabyJesus
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:28pm

    Glad to hear. Thank you Vets.

    Report Post » ThankBabyJesus  
    • JRook
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 2:11pm

      Like how sad it this. Your telling me schools don’t have enough money to purchase a flag for each classroom. Perhaps the voted down school levies and drastic cuts in state investment in education is the real story here. Particularly when you have a governor who tells voters to vote down local levies to cover the reduction in state investment. The sound bite regarding teachers and their pay may account for some of the increase, but I’ve noticed that most HS football stadiums in OH have turf fields, although they collect ridiculous fees to participate in team and in the band. If schools cannot afford to provide the necessary equipment and uniforms for the teams and the band perhaps those programs should be cut. As with car registrations, drivers license, state park admission, etc. fees are nothing more than hidden taxes. Geez, our school system actually charges a fee for classroom school supplies. Time for school districts to balance their budgets to the taxes paid and eliminate everything other than the education components. Then have the voters decide on which extracurricular programs they want to have and agree to tax increases to fund them.

      Report Post »  
    • TRUTHandFREEDOM
      Posted on November 8, 2011 at 6:23am

      Schools need to get their basics covered FIRST. Setting up a proper American classroom is small $$ compared to the luxuries and other expenses that schools go into debt for. We one had small school houses with mixed ages in a tiny room and one teacher. We moved to class levels. We had a long history of educational excellence that fed our country’s exceptionalism. Now we have alternate subjects, politically correct classes, History exclusion & revisionism and demands for millions and millions in educatation spending. I think we need the old school model and add computers. Take out the farily recent and destructive influence of the Federal department of education. Just shut it down and let’s get back to proper education.

      Report Post »  
    • The Jewish Avenger
      Posted on November 8, 2011 at 2:10pm

      “Board of Education members have thanked the veteran groups for helping the district accommodate to the new policy.”

      But don’t worry, if Coach Bubba says “we need 20k or we can’t play football next year” the town will kill itself falling over each other to raise the money…

      If this was announced to each and every school… I can with 99% certainty that one person in the community would gladly pay for the flag or take a collection to get one, even if it was for every classroom.

      But vets, God Bless you and your efforts, most go unnoticed, but Thank You.

      Report Post » The Jewish Avenger  
  • Firebrand
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:25pm

    The OWS pledge of allegiance would probably sound something like the following:

    I pledge allegiance to the people,
    Of the United nations of the world,
    and to the global community for which it stands,
    One people, indivisible, equally maintained,
    with material ends and social justice for all.

    Obviously, the rich 1%, caucasians, and anyone of jewish origin would be barred from taking the oath.

    Report Post » Firebrand  
  • garyM
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:23pm

    Good deal on the free flags. Just listened to Obama on post 9/11 returning home vets. He implimented some tax credits to companies for hiring hire vets bypassing congress, I’m pretty sure those things have been there for years. All vets gets a 5 point hiring preference over non-vets and a disabled vet get a 10 point preference over no-vets in scores on interviews to be hired. He talks a good talk though. As a vet myself, I can see through this BS, a company can either hire a vet or pass, the government doesn’t control the private sector, least not yet. If it every does, it will no longer be the private sector. I’m all for honoring vets as one myself but I recognize BS when I hear it.

    Report Post »  
    • gwssacredcause
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 1:09pm

      Good for you GARYM what you said is true, I am a veteran too and after working for the private sector and completing my college courses I applied at a veterans administration hospital. After the establishment government employees found out I was a Vietnam veteran there were a lot of accusations regarding me caring weapons to work, none were true. The more people mention PTSD the more it seems to work against veterans. The personnel department tried to tell me I was not qualified for any of the jobs that would advance me to higher pay and I finally go so disgusted with it I challenged them and read the personnel qualifications manual for myself, that was the only way I was able to get a higher paying job. I was honored to be able to serve other veterans and help them with information about their benefits and how to fight the injustice of the government system. Though it was a fight for years I feel good about helping so many veterans.

      Report Post »  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:12pm

      First of all, thank- you GARYM for your service to our country. I love the flag story, and our vets. I live in Ohio and the person who commented about the waste in our school systems was correct. There are new schools everywhere. All are examples of the waste of taxpayers money. They build them and when Nov. comes around the next year they are asking for more money to run them. Each building more elaborate than the last. The parents are forced to pay for all the extras so their child can participate in school activities. Then they threaten and often do shut down the bus services. They could afford the flags, but choose not to. It is frustrating , especially when they pass the bills and then have it automatically taken from your paycheck each week. As far as Obama’s lame speech about the vets, I agree with you . He could care less about our vets, he is campaigning and spewing his usual “promises” to get re-elected. Using our vets just as he uses everyone else.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
  • TaraR42
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:21pm

    I being a resident of the City of Columbus and I hope others will as well, contact the local VFW and ask how to make a donation to the VFW to help purchase flags for the district.

    Report Post »  
  • This_Individual
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:20pm

    I am very proud to fly our nation’s flag in our front yard. But we should be careful not to cross the line into nationalism.

    http://rexcurry.net/bellamy-edward-emiliano-zapata-mexico-socialism.html

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZO6tUC82us&feature=related

    Report Post »  
  • bruce_baker
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:14pm

    The district doesn’t have enough money for a flag for each classroom, but I’d bet every student who “needs” one, has an LGBT sensitivity textbook. They’ve had misplaced priorities for decades, supporting the socialist agenda of the National Education Association, and the goal of that organization to turn American students into “good little Marxists”. Instead of teaching American exceptionalism, they preach the “bad attitudes” of the founding fathers and all good Americans.

    We’re using tax dollars to turn America into a communist country.

    What they teach in American schools today: Global Warming is gospel, the Gospel is a myth, and Big Government would be God’s gift to humanity if God existed.

    “Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?” – Thomas Jefferson

    The question for 2012 becomes, “Do you want your children to live in a communist country, or not?”

    Report Post » bruce_baker  
    • JRook
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:29pm

      So i guess this is how you rationalize voting down every school tax levy. Or is it because your kids have graduated already.

      Report Post »  
  • RichNGadsden
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:08pm

    I really wonder how long it will take Eric (The Red) Holder to step in and investigate this as a criminal act? Gee, really loved the guy with the snot rings in his nose.

    Report Post » RichNGadsden  
    • piper60
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:12pm

      Yeah, me too. The snot rings are for his masters on the left to pull him along by.

      Report Post » piper60  
    • INTHEBEGININGGOD
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 2:41pm

      Agreed on the snot rings, after the interview he went back down the road to OWS. and put on his long haired wig, he’d fit right in.

      Report Post »  
  • MBA
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:04pm

    Thank you Veterans. And thank you for your service and sacrifice to this country. If I may ask one more sacrifce and service for all of us, volunteer to go to the schools and lead the pledge. Then give a history lesson on how you served this country and how the kids today are benefitting from your service.

    Report Post »  
    • gwssacredcause
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 1:16pm

      Thank you for your suggestion MBA it is a good one, especially the idea of a small history lesson. I am amazed at the ignorance of the youth in the nation when it come to knowledge of civics and the history of our nations conflicts. Education is always better than indoctrination.

      Report Post »  
  • hillarie
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:00pm

    I can see from this video that life inside the classroom is still as stultifying and mind numbingly boring as it ever was. Oh well. But the vets are doing a good thing. God Bless.

    Report Post »  
  • Welfare-Warfare State
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:52am

    How many of you are aware of the history of the Pledge? It was coined by the Bellamy cousins, who were both socialists with Francis being a christian socialist. The Pledge was patterned after the Loyalty Oath that Confederate soldiers were forced to recite at gunpoint on battlefields.

    It used to be THESE United States, but in the Pledge it became THE United States. Lincoln had very little use for the decentralized federated system of the vast majority of the Founders. His American System was basically a revived mercantalist scheme of Hamilton’s where power would be concentrated much more heavily in the central govt.

    So: what you are doing when you robotically recite the Pledge is swearing allegiance to the all-powerful unitary state. Patriotism is love of country (borders, language, culture), not love of govt. Govt. is not society. You are not the government.

    Another interesting historical fact about the Pledge (of submission?) is that the hand over the heart gesture only became protocol in the 1930′s. Previously Pledge Submission Reciters would hold their hands outstretched before them with palms facing upward as in the submissive style of Roman subjects to the Roman state. The reason that was changed was the hands forward-palms up style evoked Nazi-Italian salutes of that period.

    They couldn’t keep the gesture the same because some of the smarter American citizens might figure out that they were prostrating themselves to the unitary state. That wouldn’t do.

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:50am

    .
    Sad to say most of those commie Obama supporting Ohio union workers, will keep their kids home from school. They are just a bunch of boot licking Obama cronies………….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:50am

    The VFW donated 700 brand new flags and the local American Legion supplied another 500.

    GREAT JOB VETS!!!
    THANK YOU for YOUR SERVICE to OUR COUNTRY!!!!!! THANK YOU

    Report Post » banjarmon  
  • takingonissues.com
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:49am

    The liberals aren’t interested in teaching future generations about this great country of ours and those who died to bring freedom. They will tear this issue apart as soon as they can. http://www.takingonissues.com

    Report Post »  
  • grayling646
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:49am

    If anyone out there has nose rings please answer a question. How do you keep from constantly picking your nose?

    Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:45am

    Way to go vets!

    Report Post » ares338  
  • JLGunner
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:38am

    Leave it to the guy with nose rings to describe our nations flag as a sign of opression. He forgot his Che shirt at home.

    Report Post » JLGunner  
    • Mtroom
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:47am

      Exactly…Ummm, who have we oppressed exactly?…I guess him by the sound of it…I wonder what flag that guy flies..I’m sick of these anti- Americans bashing our flag

      Report Post » Mtroom  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:38am

    Thank you veterans, thank you very much.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • YoungBloodNews
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:37am

    Sadly most dont know the history of the ‘pledge’ or who wrote it….

    We certainly are divisible as a nation and each growing day I wish a state would secede and go straight conservative so I can live somewhere sane… Or can we put all the libs in cali and wall if off then force them from the union???

    Report Post » YoungBloodNews  
  • semihardrock
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:33am

    Eric Holder will be ALL OVER this. He will calim it smells of racism and ignores those children in the Massachusetts school who has just implemented the new Muslim Holiday. The ACLU (DOJ) will argue it offends other cultures and THEY have rights too.

    PS just turn on Al Jazeera TV to see how much they feel about the American Flag! OR just go watch it in the Whitehouse as Hillary has claimed to “love” watching it!

    Report Post » semihardrock  
  • drattastic
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:31am

    “The Pledge” should be said in EVERY classroom across this Nation . How many have sacrificed themselves for that FLAG? The vermin like that lib t a r d with his face like a pincushion and his little snide uninformed “oppression” comment needs a slap in the face by the widows of our fallen HEROES and a one way ticket to Cuba for the rest of his pathetic life , there he can learn the meaning of oppression.

    Report Post » drattastic  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:40am

      My friends child’s school did not have a flag and did not say the pledge .. he PURCHASED a flag for the school room and the teacher said it was “too large” (we had full size flags in our classrooms in the 1960′s) .. he thinks she just doesn’t want to have to lead the kids in the pledge.

      Disgusting what is “teaching” our children today.

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:50am

      I went to grade school in the 60‘s and 70’s and we ALWAYS had flags. I really think things changed when the Dept. Of ED. was created by Carter. Fortunately, I graduated that year and my kids go to a public school (Ripley, OH) that still respects the flag and still says prayers. We have a Marine JROTC program at our high school. That’s not to say that ALL the teachers like it, though.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:13pm

      Anonymous T. Irrelevant, I agree. The FEDERAL Dept. of Education is the worst thing for public schools. It needs to get back to the hands of the STATEs. States serve as little laboratories — what works well is copied by other states. When education worked that way, scores were higher and less money was spent.

      Which candidate advocated ending the Deptartment of Education?
      That should be a serious point in considering who to vote for.
      Ron Paul does, for sure….not sure who else.

      Report Post »  
  • amerbur
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:24am

    Thank you so much Vets.

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:24am

    Good for the VFW and all the good men and women involved. I must wonder though, how long before the ACLU gets involved with a lawsuit against the school district.

    Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:21am

    What a great idea from this group. Obama’s good friend, Bill Ayers requested a flag too. He needed a new one to stand on in a photo.

    Report Post »  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:21am

    Well done, very well done

    Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:20am

    Three cheers for the Red, White, and Blue!

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
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